Mind Your Mental Health
Written by Andrea Davis
Having been in the field of emergency management for nearly 25 years, my experiences both good and bad have taught me the importance of investing in my own personal mental health. I wish I could say I invested in my mental health because it was the right thing to do; after all you can’t have a career of helping others if you don’t help yourself first, right? Unfortunately, I learned the importance of mental health the hard way.
Early on in my career, I allowed my mental health to get so bad that I ended up having a panic attack in front of hundreds of people. Without the wherewithal and compassion of a total stranger who pulled me aside to ask if I was ok, I am not sure I would be writing this blog today.
So, in 2020 when I was the Senior Director of Global Emergency Management and Business Continuity for the Walmart Corporation, I leaned heavily on the hard lesson I had learned when I was younger. A perfect stranger taught me how important it is to actively check on my own mental health and of others ESPECIALLY in times of crisis. As a people leader in charge of the world’s largest retailer responding to a global pandemic, I had a duty to ensure my team was taken care of both physically and mentally. The push to virtual tore down any perceived boundaries between personal and work lives; increasing an already heightened stress load for everyone. Everyone was impacted by the pandemic but in very different ways, many struggling with personal and family issues. I felt it was important to foster a culture of checking in on each other. Daily, we would check in with each other; asking if someone is ok and not taking a “fine” for an answer. I was open with my team and shared what I was dealing with, which made them comfortable with sharing how they were feeling.
Being vulnerable created an environment where it was ok to say you were struggling because you knew you had a team that had your back. Even though I spent the majority of my tenure with Walmart working virtually, I felt so close to my team because of the safe space we had created. Being placed in a position to lead others during the pandemic helped me learn that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Today, I actively pursue resources to keep the importance of mental health at the forefront. Recently, a good friend of mine, Ira Schulte, published his second book, which is focused on mental health. In “Everything I Learned about Mental Health Began at Twenty-Two”, Ira shares his experiences as a social worker and psychotherapist as well as dealing with his own mental health issues. Through real-life narratives, Ira illustrates the importance of the mind-body connection as well as the benefits of healthy perspectives and attitudes. Ira stresses “the importance of learning from others, especially those who have and continue to face enormous challenges, the value of giving back to the less fortunate, and how to live life fully with humor…”
I really enjoyed reading “Everything I Learned about Mental Health Began at Twenty-Two” and highly recommend it. Ira’s ability to blend good storytelling to highlight tough subjects really makes you feel like you can overcome any problem or issue.
Autographed copies are available for purchase on The Resiliency Initiative’s website bookstore or through Amazon.
